Gabby Douglas’ unbelievable bid for a spot within the 2024 Paris Olympics formally got here to an finish on Wednesday, Could 29, when the gymnast withdrew from the U.S. gymnastics championships in Fort Price, Texas.
Douglas, 28, cited an ankle harm as the rationale she could be unable to vie to grow to be the oldest U.S. gymnast to compete within the Olympics since 1952.
“I like this sport and I like pushing my limits,” Douglas advised ESPN. “I hope I can encourage each my friends and the subsequent era of gymnasts that age is only a quantity, and you’ll accomplish something you’re employed arduous for.”
The occasion was her final probability to earn an invite to the Olympic trials in Minneapolis subsequent month. She final competed within the Olympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, and in 2012, she turned the primary Black gymnast to win the Olympic all-around title in London.
Making it to the Olympics is a feat that numerous athletes dream of their complete lives. After years of blood, sweat and tears, taking part in probably the most prestigious athletic occasion on this planet is a once-in-a-lifetime second. Some athletes compete one time within the Olympic Video games and grasp up their hats, stepping gracefully into retirement. […]
Douglas introduced in February that she could be returning to aggressive gymnastics. She defined her resolution by way of Instagram, writing, “Wow guys, what a journey up to now. it’s had its ups and downs, however i’m not accomplished pushing the boundaries. i’m decided to make each second depend! SO completely happy to get again out on the competitors ground and revel in this sport that i fell in love with as a little bit lady. right here’s to by no means giving up on our goals. let’s do that.”
On the time, Douglas confused the significance of representing the USA on the game’s largest stage.
“I’d simply love to return on the market and signify USA yet another time and simply to have that feeling of being part of one thing, being part of a workforce once more could be wonderful and an enormous honor,” she mentioned.
Her preliminary resolution to return to gymnastics got here whereas watching the 2022 U.S. championships, the place she realized she nonetheless had that aggressive edge.
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“I used to be watching the 2022 championships, and I used to be like, ‘Man, I miss competing,’” Douglas mentioned in an look on Hallie Jackson NOW. “And I used to be making an attempt to determine methods to get this — I’m nonetheless a competitor at coronary heart — so I made a decision to start out again coaching.“
Now that 2024 is out of the query for Douglas, she is going to flip her consideration to an much more unbelievable feat: 2028. She will likely be 32 when the 2028 Olympics hit Los Angeles, however she has her eyes 4 years down the highway regardless.
“I proved to myself and to the game that my abilities stay at an elite stage,” Douglas mentioned. “My plan is to proceed to coach for the L.A. 2028 Olympics. It could be such an honor to signify the U.S. at a house Olympics.”
